Oman: Entry visas alloted to foreign nationals by type (residence/visit), purpose (employment, family reunion, etc.) and sector of employment of visa holder (public/private) (2009)

Type/ purpose of visa 2009
Public Private Total
Employment visa 10,309 313,066 323,375
without family 6,370 264,992 271,362
with family 1 51 52
Family joining reunion) 1,184 3,852 5,036
Domestic servant 2,754 44,171 46,925
Visit visas 12,142 80,862 93,004
Family 5,303 54,365 59,668
Business Visa 7 5,722 5,729
Tourist 3 20,747 20,750
Government 6,829 28 6,857
Business visas 12 191 203

Source: Royal Oman Police
ANNEXED NOTE

1. Technical Notes and Definitions

The Directorate General of Passports and Residence of the Royal Oman Police is responsible for issuing passports for Omanis and granting visas to foreigners wishing to enter the Sultanate. It is also involved in regulating and monitoring the entry and exit of people to and from Oman at border checkpoints.
The office also monitors the number of expatriates living in the country in accordance with policies set by the state.
Visas are granted at the request of an Omani sponsor and on his responsibility.
The employment visa is granted at the request of a local sponsor and on his responsibility to the foreigner coming to Oman for employment and whose age is not below 21.
The family joining Visa is granted to the wife of the foreigner, who is resident in Oman, and as well to his children who are below 21 years. It is also granted to the foreign wife of an Omani national at his request, and subject to a certificate from the concerned authority (Ministry of Interior) confirming the status of the marriage.
The family Visa is granted by the concerned authority at its discretion, and at the request of a local sponsor and on his responsibility, to the relatives of the Omani national and the relatives of the foreigner who are not included in the categories eligible for Family Joining Visa.
Employment visas are valid for 2 years.
Visit visas are valid for 3 months.

2. Institution which provides data

National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI)

3. Data availability

The present data is published in 2011′ Statistical Yearbook, section “Social Services and Security”, available online on NSCI’s website. Each thematic section is presented in PDF format.
The “Social Services” section is available at:
http://www.ncsi.gov.om/NCSI_website/book/SYB2011/20-SocialServices.pdf
2011′ SYB is available at:
http://www.ncsi.gov.om/NCSI_website/book/SYB2011/index.htm

Date of access: December 2014.